Last week when I announced my newest book, Seattle 100: Portrait of a City
Hundreds of questions poured this week about the process, so in this chasejarvis CURRENT video I recorded last night at 1am, I tackle a handful of those questions and rattle on a bit about what’s going on this week. Bear with me on my yapping. It was late. I was knackered. I’ll be doing one of these every week till the book hits shelves in October, so lemme know what you want to hear more
about… Lastly, I just found out that Seattle 100 is the #2 Black & White photography book selling at Amazon right now, and #1 in Photography Travel section. Check it:
[Update: Since posting this–thanks to you–we’re now #1 in b/w and #1 in travel AND #9 in Digital Photography. Majorly humbled and thank you!]
Huge huge thanks to all you who are purchasing. I’d be so grateful if book stayed high in those rankings…for if you remember, all my proceeds go to 4culture.org. Let’s raise some money for a good cause.
Buy Seattle 100: Portrait of a City
Thanks for the update.
Question: If you were to approach a publishing company, who in the company would you contact/how would you present your idea?
i’d have a well developed idea and documentation of why it would be a good business move for the publisher. ie, you have a large online audience or a special knowledge or area of expertise that’s under represented in the mainstream… if you can get an “inside contact” that’s even better…someone who works in publishing, or a literary agent, etc, your chance will be better…
As someone who worked with a literary agent for many months to find a publisher for a photography-based book, I can say that those of us not at your level of popularity have a much harder time even getting a publisher to notice us. Mush less make an offer. Luckily the hard work payed off and I managed to get a book deal and will be releasing it likely This time in 2011.
As for book production, how much of the design and/or layout did you have input into?
When you did price negotiations to lower it to something you felt people would be more comfortable paying, did you end up making compromises on the book? Cutting # of images or pages? Less copy? Cheaper printing stock? Lowering your commission?
first, congrats on getting your book deal. very cool.
second. we were 100% in charge of book design. thanks to my publisher peach pit/pearson. we maintained 100% creative control.
with regard to pricing, it was a pretty simple equation – i was only going to sign with a publisher that would support this kind of pricing. I did put a personal guarantee on the book that it would sell a minimum, but again, my publisher was so cool about this…they GET it. we’re a part of a movement, a tidal wave of people who want to be creative. it’s a new era. (ie read daniel pink’s book “a whole new mind”)
Thanks! I will say that my publisher, Schiffer Books has been very flexible with me in the design area. I’ll own about 95% of it and will have full approval of anything they do. So I feel great about that. I’m glad that you pointed out that published book projects take FOREVER to accomplish. When all is said and done, it’ll have taken about 2.5 years for me to get this book on shelves from the first day I made the concept.
I’ll very likely be at the show opening, so see ya then.
Can’t wait for the book.
Hey Chase… Congrats on the book man! Can’t wait to check it out.
Just wanted to let you know that I am advocating the idea of creativity – with a camera phone… Obviously not professionally, but the idea that people are getting lazier when they make pictures bugs me… I love the accessability but I would love to see more people think about the image they want to create. Be it with a camera phone or Hasselblad.
Check out my recent post on the blog… I gave you mad credit and even included your B&H link for people to check out and purchase gear. My site sees sometimes 200 people in a day, so I hope it will help, even if in the most insignifcant way.
Here’s the link to the post..
http://trevordeanphotography.blogspot.com/2010/09/phun-with-your-fone.html
Cheers Man,
Trevor D. Rideout
What were you using for a mic to record this vid?
Looking forward to the book! Love SEA!!
just the apple headset that comes with iphone…it’s what’s dangling outta my ear.